After years of wondering what it would be like to live abroad, I decided to find out.
At 30 I left my job and home in the USA to live, travel, eat(!), and work in Australia for a year. Now, I’m a 30-something back in the US, working with university students, baking and learning about food, enjoying life with my Brit, and plotting the next adventure.

I’ve been to England seven times, but I had never left London until last week. Gav and I decided to leave the city for a 4-day holiday in Brighton. Amazingly enough, it was the first trip to Brighton for both of us!

After two chilly, rainy weeks in London, the sun came out to play and brightened up our trip to Brighton.

Gav after a nice walk to Brighton Marina

Wearing my Queensland Maroons shirt the day of the match

The weather was so beautiful all week long that we enjoyed several walks on the pier. Our hotel was directly across from the famous pier, so a daily stroll to the end and back was almost mandatory.

Not yet but soon...and in the USA

I'm flying home before the Jubilee next week so we celebrated early

We explored the shops and cafes of the Brighton Lanes, a series of streets that twist and turn their way around — it’s almost like you’re in a maze! After snacking on the free breakfast at the hotel, we always ventured to a cafe for a coffee, using this post to help guide us.

The Marwood Cafe's policies

Cafe Coho became our spot for the week

Slightly further afield is Treacle & Co, home of tasty cakes

In addition the hummingbird cake above, we took a slice of “apple and olive oil cake with boozy citrus syrup” back to the hotel for and evening snack.

We also enjoyed:

Brighton beach from the pier

Randomly stumbling upon Jamie Oliver’s Recipease. I didn’t take a photo, but my lunch was the best meal I had during the trip. Simple but silly delicious. Rosemary-seared beef and roasted pumpkin salad £10: Prime fillet of best British beef, rolled in rosemary and seared until rare (served cold), then thinly sliced. Served with a salad of sweet roasted pumpkin, peppery rocket, feta, toasted pine nuts and chestnuts, all drizzled with a tangy English mustard dressing.

Dinner at vegetarian restaurant Food for Friends. Our starter and Gav’s main were tastier than my dish, but that’s the good thing about sharing — I enjoyed a bit of everything

Watching my Queensland Maroons win game 1 of this year’s State of Origin series.

Macarons from Cocoa, a French patisserie we found by accident. Other than Zumbo’s, these are the BEST macarons I’ve ever had. We shared the 75% dark chocolate and Cuban rum (left), black forest (back), and my favorite, the lychee, white chocolate and raspberry marmalade macaron.

Thankfully as much as we ate in Brighton, we also walked, spending hours seeing the city on foot every day.

Brighton was a great trip, not only because of all of the fun things we did and the delicious things we ate, but also because it was out first trip together! Gav’s been to Charlottesville, and I’ve visited him in London, and we finally had a proper holiday together in a place that was new to both of us.

On that note, my time in England ends in just three days. When I get home, I have lots more to say about my month in London.

Crazy you have been England 7 times and never left London. t must be an amazing city. I will make it there one day. Looks like you had a good time ther & everything you ate looks amazing. loe the just married shot…lol.

Jaime, London isn’t my favorite place, but it’s home to some of my favorite people in the world — and they’re the reason I keep returning! Well, that and I’m now engaged to someone who lives just south of the city!

Someone I lost weight last month. I suppose it was all the walking — which my body likes more than my usual morning work outs followed by sitting on my bum at work all day!